CASP1 and myelodysplastic syndrome: Regardless of genotype, MDS hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) overexpress inflammasome proteins and express an activated NLRP3 complex, which can directly activate caspase-1, produce IL-1β, and IL-18 and cause pyroptotic cell death.